Thryv's Conference Debut: A Strategic Play for Small Business Dominance in 2025

Thryv Holdings (NASDAQ: THRY) is positioning itself as a key player in the small business software ecosystem this year, with confirmed appearances at two high-profile investor conferences in 2025. These events—the Needham Technology, Media, & Consumer 1x1 Conference and B. Riley Securities’ 25th Annual Investor Conference—are strategic moves to amplify investor awareness of its AI-driven platform and growth trajectory. Let’s dissect why these appearances matter and what they reveal about Thryv’s potential.

The Conference Playbook: Engaging Investors, Building Credibility

Thryv’s participation in these conferences isn’t merely about ticking boxes. It’s a calculated effort to connect with institutional and retail investors who are increasingly focused on software solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

First Stop: Needham’s Virtual 1x1 Conference (May 8th)
Hosted virtually, this event allows Thryv to engage with a global audience. The company’s management team will hold one-on-one meetings to discuss its platform, which integrates AI-supported marketing tools, customer relationship management (CRM), and operational automation. For investors, this is a chance to dive deep into Thryv’s unit economics, scalability, and customer retention metrics.

Second Stop: B. Riley’s Fireside Chat (May 21st)
The in-person fireside presentation at B. Riley’s conference offers a more narrative-driven opportunity. Here, Thryv’s leadership can emphasize its market differentiation—such as its 100,000+ SME client base and its role in reducing operational friction for businesses. The fireside format also allows for real-time Q&A, addressing concerns like competition from cloud-based rivals or the impact of AI adoption on pricing models.

Why Thryv’s Platform Matters in 2025

Thryv’s value proposition hinges on solving a $500B+ annual pain point: small businesses spend disproportionately on fragmented software tools. By offering an all-in-one platform with AI-driven insights, Thryv reduces this complexity. For instance, its tools automatically optimize marketing spend, manage customer interactions, and generate compliance reports—all critical for SMEs lacking dedicated IT teams.

Data-Driven Insights: Growth, Valuation, and Risks

Thryv’s customer acquisition and retention rates are central to its investment thesis. With over 100,000 SMEs on its platform (up from ~80,000 in 2023), the company is growing its user base at a ~25% annual clip—a pace that, if sustained, could drive recurring revenue.

However, valuations matter. Thryv’s current price-to-sales ratio (~4.5x) is higher than some peers, such as QuickBooks parent Intuit (INTU, ~2.8x). This premium reflects expectations for margin expansion as AI automation lowers support costs. Yet execution is key: if customer churn rises or sales cycles lengthen, the stock could underperform.

Conclusion: A Bullish Case, Anchored in Execution

Thryv’s conference appearances are a strategic lever to convert its operational narrative into investor confidence. With a platform that addresses a massive market need and a leadership team eager to engage stakeholders, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on secular trends like SME digitization.

Crunching the numbers:
- Customer base: 100,000+ SMEs (and growing at 25%+ YoY).
- Market size: The global SME software market is projected to hit $430B by 2030 (CAGR of 8.5%).
- Financials: Thryv’s revenue grew 18% in 2023, with gross margins expanding to 72% as AI lowers service costs.

While risks like pricing competition exist, Thryv’s focus on AI-driven efficiency and its direct-to-SME distribution model create durable advantages. Investors attending these conferences will likely leave with a clearer picture of whether Thryv can sustain its growth—and whether its valuation reflects that potential. For now, the stage is set for Thryv to roar in 2025.